Three images from the British Library archive. The first is an illustration of two people walking in the snow, the second is the cover of a book till "The Railway Traveller's Walk Through Oxford and the third is of the person on a path gathering flowers.
Credit: Images the British Library Collection.

Paths Through Britain

Nicholas Crane, Phoebe Smith and Chris Butterfield explore ancient routes, the enduring power of walking, and the landscapes that shape us.

About Paths Through Britain

Three images from the British Library archive. The first is an illustration of two people walking in the snow, the second is the cover of a book till "The Railway Traveller's Walk Through Oxford and the third is of the person on a path gathering flowers.
Credit: Images the British Library Collection.

Britain’s footpaths are more than routes across the landscape they are centuries-old stories of movement, belief, survival and discovery. In this panel conversation, we explore how ancient tracks, pilgrim ways and long-distance trails reveal a hidden history of how people have travelled slowly through these islands, and why walking still holds such power today.

On the panel will be geographer and broadcaster Nicholas Crane. He draws on this new book The Path More Travelled, to uncover the origins of Britain’s path networks, from medieval church routes and drovers’ roads to the evolution of modern rights of way. Joining him will be Chris Butterfield offering insight into the legacy of Alfred Wainwright and the cultural importance of walking in Britain’s upland landscapes. Also on the panel is adventurer and writer Phoebe Smith, who has walked some of Britain's oldest pilgrim pathways.

From ancient pilgrimage routes to contemporary slow travel, this event reveals how paths connect landscapes, histories and inner journeys.

Other panelists will be announced soon.

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  • Chris Butterfield

    Chris Butterfield is a Wainwright archivist and author whose work focuses on the life, publishing history and legacy of Alfred Wainwright.

    Chris Butterfield in a blue raincoat sitting on a rock in front of an expanse of water
    Credit: Steve Barber
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    Over the past decade, he has assembled one of the most extensive private archives devoted to Wainwright. Chris is the author of Wainwright Memories and was instrumental in the development of the 70th Anniversary hardback edition of The Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. He regularly gives talks based on original archival research, exploring Wainwright’s working methods and influence on fellwalking and landscape writing. Chris also runs alfredwainwright.co.uk, an online resource documenting the publishing and printing history of Wainwright’s work.

  • Phoebe Smith

    Phoebe Smith is an adventurer and multi-award-winning travel writer.

    Phoebe Smith in front of a mountain
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    She is an adventurer and multi-award-winning travel writer (most recently Broadcast of the Year; Travel Media Awards 2025 and Sustainable Travel Writer of the year; TravMedia Awards 2025), photographer, presenter and broadcaster. 

    She has presented TV segments for BBC Countryfile, BBC Breakfast, C5 Saturday Live & ITV’s Britain’s Best Walks. She is the author of 11 books, with her 12th currently in progress. Her most recent one – Wayfarer: Love, Loss and Life on Britain’s Pilgrim Paths was shortlisted as the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year 2025 and named Travel Book of the Year at the Inspire Global Media Awards 2025. 

    Phoebe is also the co-founder of the #WeTwo Foundation (with Dwayne Fields), a charity that empowers underprivileged young people through carbon negative expeditions.

  • Nicholas Crane

    Nicholas Crane is a geographer, author and cartographic expert.

    Man in glasses smiling at camera
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    He is the recipient of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s 'Mungo Park Medal' in recognition of outstanding contributions to geographical knowledge, and of the Royal Geographical Society’s Ness Award for popularising geography and the understanding of Britain. Nick has been the lead presenter on more than 80 BBC films, including the acclaimed Map Man, Great British Journeys, Town, Britannia and Coast. Between 2015 and 2018, Nick was the elected President of the Royal Geographical Society.

Venue and bar opening times

This is an in-person only event in the British Library Knowledge Centre. 

The Knowledge Centre and bar open from 18.00. 

Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event.  If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk

Concessions

There are a range of concessions available. These include discounts for British Library Members, Young Persons (16–25s), and visitors on Universal/Pension Credit and free entry for carers.

Dates and times

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